Ski

ABSTRACT

A ski including a ski body having at least one load-bearing lower facing sheet, steel edges and at least one intermediate layer of an elastomeric material, and the steel edges being laterally arranged adjacent the lower facing sheet whereby the steel edges and lower facing sheet both are connected to the ski body over the common intermediate layer of elastomeric material so that the latter dampens stresses developed under varying load and temperature conditions.

"atent Elite States Arnsteiner 1 Dec. 12, 1972 SKI FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2] Inventor: Anton Amsteiher, 5730 Mittersill, 250,229 10/1966 Austria ..2s0/11.13 1. Austria 1,299,263 6/1962 France 280/l 1.13 LM Filed: b 1970 1,152,848 9/1957 France ..280/11.l3 L [211 App]. No.: 12,209 Primary ExaminerKenneth H. Betts Assistant ExaminerMi1ton L. Smith At Wt ,Rd't',Sh rt&N' [30] Foreign Application Priority Data tame), a es 0 l l c wa z lssen Feb. 21, 1969 Austria ..Al767/69 7] BS CT A ski including a ski body having at least one load- [52] US. Cl. ..280/l1.13 L bearing lower facing Sheet, Steel edges and at least one [51] 1111. C1 ..A63C intermediate layer of an elastomeric material, and the [58] Fleld 01 Search 280/1 1.13 L, 11.13 E Steel edges being laterally arranged adjacent the lower facing sheet whereby the steel edges and lower facing [56] References and sheet both are connected to the ski body over the UNITED STATES PATENTS common intermediate layer of elastomeric material so that the latter dampens stresses developed under vary- 2,995,379 8/1961 Head ..280/1 1.13 LM ing load and temperature conditions. 3,194,572 7/1965 Fischer ..280/l1.13 LM 1 3,329,437 7/1967 Holmberg et a1 ..280/1 1.13 LM 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures 0 1 L1 2% &1?

PATENTED ucc 12 m2 Fig.1

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SKI

This invention relates to a ski which consists of a ski body, at least one loadbearing lower facing sheet, steel edges and at least one intermediate layer of elastomer material. The upper side of the ski body is usually provided with a load-bearing upper facing sheet and a top coating.

Skis of such construction are commonly known. Usuallythe load-bearing lower and upper facing sheets consist of metal or glassfiber-reinforced plastic. The ski body, whose height decreases from the ski center toward the ends, frequently consists of plastic side parts (called sides or side coating) and a core of wood, foam plastics or the like, which is massive or provided with hollow spaces. The running surface preferably consists of polyethylene. Various plastic materials are suitable for the top coating. Constructions without a special top coating or running surface are also possible. In this case the free upper side of the upper facing sheet or the free bottom side of the upper facing sheet are treated accordingly. Steel edges extending integrally throughout the length of the ski are used almost exclusively, and nowadays also continuous steel edges provided with grooves and recesses. Usually the steel edges have an angle section.

In ski construction it is known to use layers of elastomer material, e.g. rubber, for example as an intermediate layer arranged between the steel edges and a load-bearing lower facing sheet of metal (US. Pat. No. 3,194,572), or as an intermediate layer between two metal sheets of the upper facing sheet (US. Pat. No. 2,995,379). According to other proposals which have not been realized yet, an elastomer intermediate layer is arranged between two superposed layers of the ski body (French Pat. No. 1,152,848) or between the upper facing sheet or lower facing sheet on the one hand, and the ski body on the other (US. Pat. No. 2,995,379).

In contradistinction with it, the invention consists in that the steel edges are arranged laterally beside the load-bearing lower facing sheet and that the steel edges as well as the load-bearing lower facing sheet are connected with the ski body over a common intermediate layer of elastomer material.

The materials of the load-bearing lower facing sheet, the steel edges and the ski body show different elongation characteristics as a function of the stresses occuring under a load (tensile load) as well as of temperature. This difference in elongation is shown by the different modulus of elasticity and the different coefficient of thermal expansion. In compound construction, differences of stress are found between the mentioned ski structural parts under load or fluctuations in temperature. This means that a certain force is exercised by one structural part on the other so that the individual structural parts cannot behave freely according to their internal characteristics.

On account of the elastomer intermediate layer the different elongation behavior of the mentioned structural parts is offset so that intermediate stresses can be largely avoided and the individual structural parts keep their own characteristics. It is of importance that, in contrast to the present use of elastomer intermediate layers, three structural parts of difierent kind having different elongation behavior, namely the steel edges, the load-bearing lower facing sheet and the ski body,

are separated from each other without considerable intermediate stresses by the arrangement according to the invention, though there is only one intermediate layer of elastomer material. This separation without considerable intermediate stresses is based on the fact that the load-bearing lower facing sheet and the steel edges are arranged side by side on the one hand, and the steel edges as well as the load-bearing lower facing sheet on the other are connected with the ski body over an intermediate layer of elastomer material.

Of course, with the construction of the invention, the elastomer material of the intermediate layer also shows the known effect of absorbing vibrations. It is further of importance that elastomer materials, before being cured, show the properties of an adhesive. For this reason the elastomer intermediate layer can also function as an adhesive layer between the ski body on the one hand, and the steel edges as well as the lower facing sheet on the other.

Due to the construction of the invention the ski is well suitable for adapting to the encountered obstructions of the soil and thus ensures a smooth ride. The mentioned offset of stresses between the steel edges, the load-bearing lower facing sheet and the ski body also has a favorable effect on the ultimate strength of the ski.

An embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing without being limited to it.

FIG. 1 is a view in top plan of a ski embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in partial section taken along line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1.

The embodiment relates to a ski in sandwich construction comprising a load-bearing upper facing sheet 1, a load-bearing lower facing sheet 2 and aski body arranged between the two, said ski body consisting of sides 3 of phenol resin and a core 4 of wood, for example of an ash-tree.

The upper facing sheet 1 and the lower facing sheet 2 are sheet-like structural parts of light weight metal or glass fiber-reinforced plastic or of another material suitable for bearing load. A construction of the upper facing sheet 1 or lower facing sheet 2 in two or more sheets is also possible, for example in the form of compound sheets of metal and plastic.

The steel edges 5 of the ski showing an angle section are arranged laterally beside the load-bearing lower facing sheet 2. A running coating 6 of polyethylene covers the load-bearing lower facing sheet 2 and the flanges of the steel edges 5.

An intermediate layer 7 of elastomer material, for example rubber, is arranged between the steel edges 5 and the lower facing sheet 2 on the one hand, and the ski body 3, 4 on the other. Thus the steel edges 5 as well as the load-bearing lower facing sheet 2 are connected with the ski body 3, 4 over a common, elastomer intermediate layer 7 offsetting stresses.

In principle, the invention requires only one such elastomer intermediate layer 7, though further elastomer intermediate layers can be arranged in the ski body, for example between two layers of the upper facing sheet and/or lower facing sheet, between the upper facing sheet and the ski body or, with an almost partially horizontally laminated construction of the ski body or the core, between two superposed layers of the ski body or the core.

In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the upper side of the steel edges 5 and of the load-bearing lower facing sheet 2 are flush with each other. Though it is convenient for technical reasons of production, it is not essential for the invention. It is of importance, however, that the steel edges 5 are arranged beside the load-bearing lower facing sheet 2 (notas known-on the bottom side of the lower facing sheet), even with a step provided between the upper side of the steel edges 5 and the upper side of the load-bearing facing sheet 2, i.e. with the lower facing sheet 2 being staggered in height relative to the steel edges 5.

What 1 claim is:

A ski comprising a ski body, at least one load-bearing lower facing sheet, steel edges and at least one intermediate layer of elastomer material, wherein the steel edges are arranged laterally beside and in spaced relationship with the load-bearing lower facing sheet and the steel edges as well as said lower facing sheet are solely connected with the ski body over a common intermediate layer of elastomer material. 

